New Book on Top 50 World Record Catches Captures the Imagination Too

SEYMOUR, Conn. USA -- Let’s face it.  You’ll never own a world record in swimming or track and field.  Nope.  Won’t happen.  However, every time you wet a line, you have a shot at landing a lunker that will go down in the International Game Fish Association (IGFA) record books.  That slender thread of possibility is what makes angling the most egalitarian of sports.  On any given day, you just never know.  

To celebrate the possibilities, celebrated angling author Mike Rivkin has teamed up with renowned watercolorist Flick Ford to create BIG: The 50 Greatest World Record Catches (Greenwich Workshop Press, 216 pages, $50).  This coffee-table collaboration combines Rivkin’s considerable narrative skills with Ford’s uncanny ability to reproduce game fish in their entire lifelike splendor.  Never mind how he does it: the fact is that these fish appear poised to swim off the very paper they’re printed on.  

The first thing you’ll notice is that the book lives up to its title.  BIG’s 14”x11” dimensions deliver the goods in glorious detail on 50 of the all-time great catches.  Each painting pops with taxonomic detail, and the stories are every bit as rich.  How did a high-school girl on her first fishing trip catch the world’s largest wahoo?  What would prompt a guy fishing for Northern pike to stick his hands in amongst all those teeth?  Why would an angler for Atlantic salmon bombard his catch with rocks?  If you don’t know the answer to these and other burning questions, reading BIG on a cold winter’s night is a terrific way to find out.

Frankly, part of the charm of this book includes the fact that BIG’s top 50 are so subjective.  Just like the all-time greatest outfield or defensive line, the arguments for including this fish and excluding that one are never-ending.  In the end, Rivkin (a big-game guy) and Ford (a fresh-water dilettante) split the list almost down the middle.  Bass, salmon, and trout are well represented, but so are tuna and marlin.   It’s a fair mix of large and small, fresh and salt, northern and southern.  Hey – it could always happen to you!]

This book belongs on your holiday gift list… for you, if for nobody else.  Rivkin’s got some other killer angling books out, too.  Take a look at www.silverfishpress.com for his latest works.  You won’t be disappointed!

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Publicist note to editors: For consideration of a media copy from a limited supply please contact Wendy Wentworth at Greenwich Workshop Press:  (wentworth@greenwichworkshop.com) to make your request. To contact Mike Rivkin for an interview please call him at 858-625-0220 or scmcorp@sbcglobal.net .

 Pete Johnson, Johnson Communications

Scottsdale, Ariz. 85267

                                                              480-951-3654 (ph) 480-951-0040 (fax)

JohnsonCom@aol.com (e-mail)

I Fish; Therefore, I Am

I Fish; Therefore, I Am: And Other Observations by Patrick F. McManus This book is a compilation of three other McManus books: "A Fine and Pleasant Misery," "Never Sniff a Gift Fish," and "They Shoot Canoes, Don't They?" It is not the same volume as the two-cassette release by the same name.

The cassette edition by this name is a compilation of only a few Pat stories. Dedicated McManus readers may already have the three volumes contained in this book. It is, however, a great gift, and nice for those who haven't yet purchased the earlier books that make it up.

Inshore Salt Water Fishing

Inshore Salt Water Fishing by Creative Publishing international Facts and information about the history and distribution of over 40 inshore species.

Ken Schultz's Field Guide to Saltwater Fish

The definitive field guide to North American saltwater fish–from the absolute authority on sportfishing.

Before you head out to the open seas, listen up: Your tackle box is not complete without Ken Schultz’s Field Guide to Saltwater Fish! Written by one of the foremost experts in sportfishing, this colorful reference provides anglers and fish enthusiasts of all levels an easy-to-use, indispensable guide to help you identify and learn about the most common species found off the North American coastlines–from albacore to yellowtail.

Based on the award-winning reference book Ken Schultz’s Fishing Encyclopedia, this handy field guide compresses the essence of its bestselling predecessor into a more manageable, compact size. Arranged alphabetically by species, each entry covers the identification, size/age, distribution, habitat, life history/behavior, and feeding habits of each fish. This fully illustrated, full-color guide makes it easy to identify what’s at the end of your line. You’ll learn how to distinguish an Atlantic mackerel from a Spanish mackerel, for instance; why you might mistake a cobia for a shark or a remora; how the red grouper’s saddle spot will help you tell it apart from a Nassau grouper; and so much more.

Written for the 16 million people who enjoy saltwater fishing, Ken Schultz’s Field Guide to Saltwater Fish features:

• 227 of the most common saltwater fish
• Large, full-color illustrations to help you identify your catch
• Approachable organization in a compact, take-along size
• A comprehensive glossary that explains the terms used in the species profiles
• Overview and anatomy sections written in layman’s terms

Ken Schultz’s Field Guide to Saltwater Fish is a must-have for any fan of America’s favorite pastime: fishing!

Salt Water Fishing Tactics: Learn from the Experts at Salt Water Magazine

If you have been out on a charter fishing trip or just watched fisherman on the pier and have asked yourself, "What in the heck are they doing?" this book is for you. This book answers the most basic questions on saltwater fishing tactics.

After reading this book and understanding its content, you will cover about 80% of what you need to know. The other 20% is just plain experience. This is a GREAT book for your kids who just discovered that fishing bug. Not a bad Father's Day gift for the greenhorn either.

In A Good Life Wasted the author Dave Ames

In A Good Life Wasted the author Dave Ames recounts his last twenty years as a fishing guide in the trout fishing capital of the universe, Montana. It is every true fly fisherman's dream to be reincarnated as a Montana fly fishing guide.

As Ames aptly puts it in the opening line of the book, "With all my fingers and all my splayed toes I still can't count the number of millionaires who have wished out loud that they could be me." They wouldn't wish it if they read on as Ames describes living in a rat infested trailer, bouncing checks and using a log in the great outdoors as a temporary outhouse until he can buy a toilet.

Ames' career begins as a hydrologist for the federal government who one day goes "postal" by punching a clock - literally.

He bluffs his way into a job as a fishing guide working for a local Blackfoot Native American known affectionately as Kingfish. He plods his was through his early guiding days and his life becomes entangled in a contradictory world of haves and have nots. The numerous stories Ames recounts meld seamlessly with each other and offer more lessons on life's moral and religious significance than on fishing.

Most books lose steam after the first couple of chapters - not this one. It becomes more intriguing and gets better as it goes.

It is truly a page turner. The surest sign of a great book for me is when I am done do I tell myself I want more. The answer here is a resounding yes! So, Mr. Ames, during the long Montana winters get cracking and put pen to pad and finger to keyboard and allow us to be temporarily reincarnated as you.

The Complete Book of Saltwater Fishing

The Complete Book of Saltwater Fishing
by Milt Rosko

This book is full of information that will help put you and your friends into some good fishing. The information ranges from fishing on rental boats in a small saltwater bay to offshore trips for big gamefish and even provides recipes for your catch from Milt's lifelong fishing companion and wife, June. One of the highlights of the book is the use of photography chronicling his tactics as a "jetty jock" in order to land the coveted lunker Striped Bass that cruise the Northeast coast every April to December from the Cheasapeake bay, Virginia to New England.

There are even some photos revealing his commitment to teaching and imparting his fishing "know how" to his grandaughters on small skiffs. Rosko has been fishing for more than 60 years and he has culled the best of his knowledge gained over six decades into this 288 page handbook for successful angling! He covers all the coasts but is especially strong in his homegrown territory, the Northeast coast.

It makes a great gift for someone who has a passion for fishing or a budding gift for fishing.

Fijian: Lonely Planet Phrasebook by Paul A. Geraghty

Dr. Geraghty is the world's leading linguist of Fiji's 300 indigenous regional dialects, and this book is a simple, straightforward, useful introduction to any traveler.

Ken Schultz's Fishing Encyclopedia

I found this book extremely useful and entertaining. It doesn't speak down to you or use terms that I wouldn't use. It's not a cheap book, but once you purchase it you find that you got what you paid for! Great for people just getting started as well as the hardcore fisherman. Buy this book for yourself or as a present and you will be glad you did.

Heftier than most trophy trout, Ken Schultz's thoroughly comprehensive reference may be too big to fit into your fly box, but it'll take you more places than a marlin fighting a hook. Schultz knows what he's talking about; a staffer at Field & Stream for more than 25 years, he's held seven world fishing records at one time or another and was recently inducted into the Fishing Hall of Fame. Somewhere along the way, he put down his rod long enough to reel in more than 100 expert contributors from around the world to help compile what should be the definitive reference on all things angling for some time. More than 2,200 entries cover the whole ocean--plus rivers, streams, lakes, and ponds--of sportfishing with topics ranging from technique and equipment to the fish themselves.

You want the ABCs of sonar? It's here. Unsure what a Kirby hook looks like? Schultz'll show you. How do you drift fish? This is where to learn. Hundreds of species are present and accounted for, their entries accompanied by photographs and/or watercolors. Say, for example, you want to land an Atlantic Bonito. The Fishing Encyclopedia will tell you the fish's Latin name is Sarda sarda, it's a relative of tuna, and it has a reputation for putting up a fight and tasting good once you catch it. Schultz also adds detailed information on its markings, size, habitat, behavior, and feeding habits and even offers some counsel on how best to catch it. The Fishing Encyclopedia may not be able to physically catch something for you, but it'll tell you pretty much everything you want to know about anything--other than maybe that old shoe--you manage to land on your own. --Jeff Silverman

Book Description Ken Schultz's Fishing Encyclopedia The most comprehensive, up-to-date fishing encyclopedia in the world today Ken Schultz's Fishing Encyclopedia is the new standard for knowledge on fishing and everything related to it. With complete, insightful information for both freshwater and saltwater anglers at all levels of experience, it is the only authoritative, and up-to-date fishing encyclopedia available. More than 2,000 detailed entries and over 1,400 color illustrations and photos cover every aspect of fishing today, including fish species, equipment, places, techniques, and a wide array of other information.

Ken Schultz, internationally known fishing expert and 26-year editor at Field & Stream, and his team of international experts have created the definitive fishing guide for the new millennium. Their combined expertise spans the world—from Montana to Mozambique—and is uniquely modern in scope,covering current conservation programs and issues as well as the most recent developments in technique and equipment.

"Ken Schultz's Fishing Encyclopedia is the only complete book of fishing knowledge. With expert information from cover to cover, it dwarfs every fishing book on the market. This book is indispensable." —Vin T. Sparano, Editor Emeritus/Senior Field Editor, Outdoor Life

"A new resource for a new century, Ken Schultz's Fishing Encyclopedia is destined to become the last word in fishing information." —Slaton White, Editor, Field & Stream

Saltwater Gamefishing: Offshore and Onshore

Saltwater Gamefishing examines all aspects of world saltwater gamefishing both onshore and offshore. Whether you are fishing for giant billfish in deep water oceans or from rocky headlands or angling for lighter gamefish in rivers and estuaries, Saltwater Gamefishing will provide you with all the necessary details of where to find them, how to fish for them and the equipment you will need. All the main species of gamefish are identified, with illustrations and maps showing world distribution.

Saltwater Gamefishing also includes information on how to rig bait, troll lures, take a leader, and handle a gaff. It provides advice on suitable rods, reels and tackle, and when and how to use it. There is also vital information on selecting an appropriate boat and dealing with charter boat crews. In addition, the rules of competitive fishing are outlined, as is their importance in world records.

Saltwater Gamefishing emphasizes the need for conservation of fish stocks and for the first time provides information on how to capture, tag and release billfish, tuna and other gamefish. Correct techniques for wiring and gaffing fish to allow for successful resuscitation of the released fish are described.

Lavishly illustrated with over 120 full color and 100 black and white photographs, Saltwater Gamefishing also includes more than 200 diagrams and illustrations to help identify species and explain technical information.

About the Author

Peter Goadby ranks among the world's leading big game anglers. A successful competitor, Peter has held world records and is renowned not only for his big game expertise but his ability to pass on his knowledge to other enthusiastic anglers. He has fished extensively in Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the United States and has competed successfully against many of the world's best anglers in international tournaments in Hawaii, Tahiti, New Zealand, Nova Scotia and Australia. He has been appointed to overseas tournament boards, has acted as chief judge of the Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament since 1970 and is an honorary member of many national fishing associations including Japan, France, Belgium and New Zealand. He is also a representative of the International Game Fish Association.

Peter Goadby is a conservationist and, with his close associate John O'Brien, is acknowledged as an initiator of, and a driving force behind, the successful trend to tag and release in Australia, Hawaii and other areas of the Pacific. In 1990 the International Game Fish Association recognized his contribution with a Conservation Award.

Peter Goadby has written extensively for fishing magazines, in particular Angler's Digest and Fishing News, and for the International Game Fish Association Annual since 1953. He is also the author of three outstanding books, the best known being Big Fish and Blue Water, now in its fifth edition.